Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting and promoting the growth and capacity of political parties in Papua New Guinea, representatives from the Registry of Political Parties and Candidates attended a dialogue between Pangu Pati and the Communist Party of China (CPC) on July 27th, 2026 following an invitation from Pangu Pati.
The Registry’s Policy and Legal Division was invited to witness the discussions surrounding a proposed sister-party relationship. The Registry delegation consisted of Director for Funding and Disclosure, Mr. Solomon Puana, Manager for Disclosure, Ms. Fraghi and Manager for Legal. Ms. Lyean Nants. The Pangu Pati team was led by National General Secretary. Mr. Morris Dogimai Tovebae alongside Minister for Education and Member for Kerowagi, Francis Kinkin Sinue, Minister for Housing and Member for Tewae-Siassi, Dr. Kobby Bomareo, and Secretariat officers.
During the session, Pangu Ministers expressed gratitude to the CPC and referenced the historical foundation of PNG’s foreign relationships established by late Sir Michael Thomas Somare in 1974 and Sir Maori Kiki in 1976. The discussions emphasized that while the proposed relationship remains open, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) explicitly restrains both parties from interfering in each other’s internal affairs.Registry Insights and Guidance on Party Governance As part of the Registry’s role in guiding political parties on organizational structure and development, Mr. Solomon Puana was invited to share insights from his previous visit to China.He highlighted two key observations relevant to party institutional building saying the structured framework utilized for internal political education and capacity building, the CPC’s active engagement with sister parties globally to foster international ties.
The dialogue also served as an opportunity to clarify regulatory frameworks. When CPC’s Mr. Zhao Hongtao inquired about the impact of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) on local political parties, Mr. Puana provided clear legal guidance. He explained that 95% of the law remains stable with only 5% undergoing changes, highlighting that OLIPPAC acts as the primary legislation, while individual party constitutions serve as sub-legislations designed to govern internal party members.MOU Deferred for AdjustmentsWhile the overall engagement was positive, the MOU was not signed during the session and has been deferred to a later date to allow for necessary adjustments. Key provisions, including China’s inclusion of the One China Policy, are set to be amended to properly align with the mutual understanding of both parties before formal execution.
The Registry of Political Parties continues to observe such developments to ensure political parties operate within statutory frameworks while expanding their organizational capacity.